The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-03-19

BILE to live. now that some on xxi ose artee-
ton she could think of. and after her own
fashion return, cared for her. she would
live, and perhaps, if God wilied. she would
some day lie happy again.
Colonel Lyndon, in the meantime, was
completing his arrangements.
The day after he saw Lefty, High Ciife
was advertised as for sale in the
papers Letters followed from his frien d
brimful of lamentation and inquiry. But
the Colonel held firmly TO his resolution.
High Cliffe was for sale.
Two DAYS after his advertisement had
appeared, the head OF the firm of agents
that had fer many wears managed tia
property called upon him nj his chambers.
The poor man. who could not reconcile
himself to the estate pas ing forever away
from the Lyndons, looked pallia with agi-
tation as he opened ont his business.
Il ain bound o tell YOU, Colonel Iyn
don, he said "tha; an offer has been made
for your estate
Already" said the Colonel.
Already; and, between ourselves,
magnificent offer. QUILT to know better
than anyone else what the property is
worth. There MAY be minerals, of course.
Barring that mere chance, and a poor
one. should say am bound 10 tell you
that the price offered is as much again, IL
my humble opinion, as the property i
worth.
And the proposed purchase. i solid
A firm Of bankers. sir: one Of the most
substantial auks in London Not e real
purchasers, No deub In, r,ady to give ey-
cry guarantee.
on have closed with the offer, sup
pose?'
No. Colonel Lyndon, hare not !
wanted 20 see you once more. You wrote
10 me with great de,erminati on: still -Hell,
the fact Is. Their has been Lyndon Of
Seems a pity. II wouid be easy enough, you
know. 10 = Use mone,l, if Won are in want of
1T.
Il snip, ose so; but that would no; suit
NE. Mr.. Allen. am sorry 10 distress Hon,
said the Colonel; "bu, az, in ay,ry few
years tine. lie Lyndons of High ciife
would IN any case have run themselves
out what can il matter? | am only ante
dating my owa decease Ivy n few Yeas. |
must ask Won Ia close at once With these
generous pus chas r. They know the
place, of cours-!
They say they have had thoir eye on 1t
for some wears. Very odd. very odd in
dee,li" said the little man.
He took up his hat mechanically ami
made for the door.
I.et me know Il soon as Il - all settled, y
clied the Colonel after bin.
II was all settled in miracu ously short
time The estate was uniucuu.b red, and,
having been III the posse sion If one family
for several generations. Eo elaborate search
for tile was Necessary IL purchasers
also Us the agent hal stated. We're solid
J L L lN..r
sums of money In less than twenty four
hours after The interview between Colonel
Lyndon and his man Of business, the pur-
chase money for High Cllffe-some twenty
thousand pounds -wGs paid in to the
Coloners banking account.
iron receiving news of the compile ion
of The purchase. the Colonel, who was 'as
happy as lover, wrote to Lefty and to her
hostess, Mrs. Morton, begging that no
change might be made until his return to
London, and di patched telegram to
Scotland, stating that he would start for
Castle Ettsick that evening.
Six DAYS only had gone by since h. re-
cened that memorable letter from Lady
Flora. II was then the twentv-fourth of
December, ii WAS now the thirtleth. The
Colonel, who lad been too busily occupied.
bot mentally an physically, to take much
note of the iii bit OF time, was surprised
when he found that he was SO near the end
OF the year. So much the better. he said
to limselt ioyfuliy. The new year. if
God prosper, my mission, will open We'll.
It was one of those bleak. sunless days
which, dreary everywhere, are gloomy be-
yond EXPIRE SsiOn il London.
The Colonel. who characteristically-h
was always little beforehand with time
bad made all his arrangements long before
the hour for starting, sat at bis window.
looking up and down the street. 1t was
early in the afternoon. but the gloom deep
ened to g nurhy darkness, dazzling to the
eyes. The neyer-ceasing traffic slackened
its pace, the passers-by looked like
pale phantoms fitting uneasily from one
island of light 10 another. Presently the
snow began IN fall, Ia &c fakes, that
dropped noiselessly through the still ar,
and rested " ere they fell
Thinking that it would he as well for
him to start for tie station at once, as later
the streets mig be impas sable, TIE Colonel
rang the bell and ordered hanson called.
Almost al tn. same moment his own outer
bell rang.
See who flat Is, he said to his SER
want. If It j. 8 visitor. say am inst leay-
ing home.
III "a few momen the man returned with
letter. Left by a lady, sir he said;
drove up in a carriage and pair. Said
was to giv- it into vour own hands. Han
som at tie door, sir. Heavy travelling.
Very heavy indeed; | only hope tie line
will be open, said the Colonel.
II took him about an hour II reach En-
ton. The air grew blacker and blacker,
ami the snow continued TO fall with terri
bic persistence. Even London was silent
now. There was an unspeakable solemnity
abos,t the g Eat ehrouded city.
Arrived at Ens:on. the Colonel gave his
driver a SOW reign aud advised him TO put
mp for the night. 1t was still early in the
evering. He turned into one of the wait
ing rooms, where bri hit fire was burning,
found that he was abont two hours too soon
for the limited mall and only then remem-
Der q the letter that had been put into his
hands before h left his chambers.
That letter gave the Colonel food for
| thought throughout the night And vet it
was very brief:
NJ DEAR Colonel. LYNDoS-I beg you not
70 b. frightened hy the inclosure 1t is for
Lefty Morrison. / have seen ner aud Mr.
Mott m, and hav. heard from Janet Hacken-
Zie, 80 that know how things are going |
also know that you have undertaken to aci for
Lefty Do MT desp 20 me for saving that
money Is a h lp in these natter.
Il P'es bic, X .ep my name from appearing
Il pr - the l-ciused as a gift from friend
OF b n family, or legacy. With management
hei'eNe everything viii come right
The writer of the letter was Veronica
Browne. The Enclosure was a draft on her
bankers for five thousand pounds.
For few seconds the Colonel could
| scarcely believe the evidence of his senses.
| 80 magnificent gift, and offered in this
| frank, simple way. as if it were mat
/ ter Of no moment whatever. When he re-
cover from lis first establishment he
| smiled. My little Lefty is a woman of
| prop rte after all. he said to himself. Il
thlnk there will be- no difficulty now"
II e smile was followed by sigh. His
| sympathieS lad been with the one Young
girl; he had forgotten the other. She was
| IN love. To his simple, logical mind, there
could be 10 further doubt. She was in
love. and she was suffering as he had done.
In the dow-ring of fhe girl whom she
must necessa Is look upon a. her rival. and
| IN her wish In no one but himself should
know of her generous deed. she was acting
after the Coionel~ oNn heart.
For the first time since he met Veronica
Browne he thought of her with entbu-
slasm.